This episode sets up the beginning of the end for Buffy and Angel and everyone else. It's Buffy's birthday and the gang's planned a surprise party for her, but it's nothing compared to the surprise that Spike and Dru have waiting for her....We get insight as to who Jenny Calendar really is; Willow asks out Oz; and Buffy and Angel consummate their relationship. Can you say, "Wow!"?

PLOT:

Shows open with Buffy asleep in her bed...she's having some wacky dream where she's in the Bronze and sees Willow talking French to a monkey. Then she sees her mom, who asks her if she really thinks she's ready. Her mom drops a plate onto the floor and then Buffy sees Angel in lurch-mode. Alls of a sudden, Drusilla appears and kills Angel. Buffy wakes up freaked out.

So basically, Buffy's birthday is fast approaching, and we learn that Buffy wants permission to try to get her driver's license. It's kind of funny to think that the Slayer can't drive. I mean, come on, she couldn't be any worse than Cordelia, now, could she? Anyway, Buffy's still freaked about the dream, especially since her mom ended up dropping a plate in real life after asking Buffy if she thought she was ready [to be a driver]. Besides, what with the whole Slayer's dreams/prophecies coming true, I'd say she has good reason to be worried.

Anyhoo, Buffy high-tails it on over to Angel's to make sure that he's okay, and the two get caught up in a smooch-fest. Later at school, Willow and Buffy are doing the chat thing, and Buffy urges Willow to go talk to Oz.

Meanwhile over in vamp-land, we learn that Dru's getting things ready for her own party. Expect something diabolical.

Jenny gets a visit from her uncle and we're alerted to her gypsy identity. She's supposed to have been keeping a watch on Angel and Buffy....Later, Jenny offers Buffy a ride to Giles's place -- your basic surprise party foolery, 'cause they're actually going to the Bronze -- and Buffy spies some illicit vamp activity in an alley. She meets up with Dalton, who's stealing a box. Fight ensues, she recovers the box and crashes through one of the Bronze's windows. She dusts a vamp in front of everyone, including Oz.

Buffy opens the box only to be strangled by a disembodied arm. Angel fills the gang in -- the arm belongs to the Judge -- and then Angel is assigned the job of taking the arm to a remote corner of the earth to bury it.

The birthday party pretty much goes downhill from here. Buffy and Angel are in the middle of a teary good-bye and proclamation of love on the docks. Angel gives Buffy a claddagh ring and tells her which way to wear it -- with the heart pointing to her, I think, since that means she's spoken for, or something.

Meanwhile, Spike and Dru are less than pleased that Dalton lost the box, and they tell him to go recover it. So the vamps interrupt the dock smoochfest and more fighting happens. Buffy gets knocked into the water and Angel jumps in after her, leaving the box unguarded.

Okay, so Buffy and Angel go to the vamp party and see the Judge is assembled. They witness Dalton's death and they get caught. Buffy kicks the Judge and she and Angel manage to escape via the sewers. They go back to Angel's and what can I say? Buffy and Angel seize the day. Or the night. Or whatever.

Later Angel wakes up clutching his stomach and he manages to get dressed somehow. We see him on the street, in the rain, howling Buffy's name...How about that? I was sort of low on the details this time! Yay me!

What Got the Job Done:

1. Buffy fought the vamps outside the Bronze and staked one inside the Bronze
2. Buffy kicked the Judge and Angel thrashed around and knocked the tv monitors down. The monitors crashed through the floor, giving them a makeshift entrance into the sewers. I think. Gotta check the tape.

What We Learn in This Episode:

1. Willow likes Oz's hands.
2. Jenny Calendar's real name is Janna Calderash -- she's a gypsy.
3. Oz is kinda unflappable, judging by his reaction to the existence of vampires.
4. Cordelia can brighten up any party.

An Amusing Exchange:

Xander: "Buffy, I feel a pre-birthday spanking coming on..."
Jenny C: "I'd curb that impulse if I were you, Xander."
Xander: "Check, cancel spanking." -- (said into his shirt, as if there's a mike)